In article 1138302691.662580@sj-nntpcache-5, Dave Butler
wrote:

...suppose ATC had you intercepting the localizer at 10000 feet.

For the purposes of the thought experiment, assume this still allows
you to intercept the glide slope from below. Could you be confident
that the glide slope had been flight-checked up to 10000 feet? No.
You also don't know that it's been flight checked to 2000 feet. Where
do you draw the line?

You draw the line by looking at the profile view on the approach chart,
ensuring that you're above the step-downs as the appropriate point.
(One some approaches, as other posters noted, the glideslope will put
you below some of these crossing restrictions. Fuzzy memories tell me
BOS ILS27 used to be like that, but it isn't anymore.)

As long as you're cross-checking your altitudes to ensure you're above
the minimum crossing altitudes, there's no problem at all following the
glideslope down from farther out. It's *vitally* important to check
the glideslope crossing altitude at marker, of course, to ensure that
you're not on a false glideslope.

--
Garner R. Miller
ATP/CFII/MEI
Clifton Park, NY =USA=
http://www.garnermiller.com/